Jake Arrieta lasted just three innings, and the Phillies offense was kept in check in a 12-4 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday night.

The game was delayed at the outset for nearly two hours due to rain. The Phillies made three errors in the contest and finished with Pedro Florimon tossing a scoreless ninth. Yeah, it was that type of night.

The loss kept the Phillies from taking possession of first-place in the NL East.

"You're not going to play perfect baseball every night," manager Gabe Kapler told MLB.com. "This was not our best game by any stretch, and we can always do a better job. Sleep fast, come back tomorrow be ready to play again."

Reliever Yacksel Rios surrendered three runs on four hits in relief. He was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley following Friday's contest, likely to make room for Victor Arano who is eligible to come off of the disabled list on Saturday.

Ceasar Hernandez collected two hits in the loss, including a solo shot in the sixth. Odubel Herrera kept his on-base streak alive, stretching it to 44-games with a two-run single in the fifth.

After tossing a scoreless eighth, Florimon launched a solo homer in the ninth. It was his second homer in two nights after having not hit a dinger in more than four years.

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"What an inspiration he has been to our team. I walked over to him and said, 'Flo, I'd really like you to pitch this inning for us,' and he just looked at me and said, 'Absolutely, I got you,'" Kapler told MLB.com. "And he went out there and hit a big bomb for us. He's just been the consummate professional for us. He was the standout of the night."

Saturday's Match-up
The Phillies send Zach Eflin to the hill. He's looked outstanding over his first two starts of the season, surrendering just one run over 12 2/3 innings. The Cardinals counter with right-hander John Gant.

On the Farm
Ben Lively tossed six innings for the IronPigs on Friday night, surrendering one run on two hits. He struck out five. Mark Leiter Jr. also threw a scoreless inning in a 2-1 Lehigh Valley win.